6 Not-So Hidden Gems in Tampa Bay

Nestled into Florida's West Coast on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, the Tampa Bay area is a bustling metropolis filled with a vibrant cultural scene, a thriving academic world, a high-tech hot spot, and of course a recreational paradise. The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area is the largest in the state of Florida not only because of the vast influx of people moving all across the country, but also because a large number of residents decide to make Tampa their permanent home.

Whether you are new to town, or have lived in Tampa your whole life, there are several hidden (and some not-so-secret) places and scenes that you need to know about to take in all that the Tampa Bay area has to offer.

Craft Beer

USA Today recently announced that Tampa was one of the top 10 cities in America for those looking for hand-crafted beers and smaller, unique breweries. Such fan favorites include Cigar City Brewing - which brews its popular Jai Alai IPA and Florida Cracker white beer. Cigar City offers a nod to the rich history of Tampa Bay while appealing to modern beer aficionados too.

Art Scene

The Tampa and St. Petersburg area are home to some of the best art museums in the southeastern United States while places like the The Dali Museum (home to an impressive collection of artwork from the painter Salvador Dali), the Tampa Museum of Art, and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. Plus, every year in the month of March, Tampa plays host to the Gasparilla Arts Month which features the Gasparilla Music Festival and the internationally recognized Gasparilla Film Festival.

Sporting Foods

For the intense professional hockey fans or the raucous concert goers in downtown Tampa, the Amelia Arena provides a unique blend of fine cuisine that will surely change you mind about what "stadium food" should taste like. Check out the Firestick Grill and Mr. Empanada the next time you cheer on the Bolts!

Cigars

In the 1920s, the city of Tampa was the largest producer of cigars in the entire world making anywhere from 500,000 to nearly 1,000,000 cigars every year. That is why Tampa has the nickname Cigar City. Ybor City, near downtown Tampa, was the epicenter of this cigar production. Today, you can still see several of the old cigar factories that dotted the city's skyline for decades. Be sure light up an Oliva cigar the next time you stroll down 7th Avenue in Ybor City.

Cuban Sandwiches

One of the best sandwich varieties of all-time is the Cuban sandwich. A proper Cuban sandwich - one with ham, salami, roasted pork, swiss cheese, mustard, and a pickle on two freshly baked slices of Cuban bread - is the highlight for many restaurants throughout the Tampa Bay area. Visit almost any restaurant (even the sushi places have Cuban sandwich rolls!) and you'll be sure to find their own special blend of the Cuban sandwich. But for my personal favorite, you will have to check out the Cuban sandwich at The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.

The Beaches
Probably the worst kept secret in all of the Tampa Bay area is the access to the hundreds of miles of pristine beaches and coastlines. Whether you like the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico or the great fishing spots in Tampa Bay, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region has it all for you. For some of the best beaches in the country, I would check out Anna Maria Island and Fort DeSoto Park.

So the next time you are out exploring your new hometown (or your hold hometown) be sure to take in some of these great not-so hidden sights and sounds of the Tampa Bay area.

Sources: Visit Tampa Bay, Community Profiles of Tampa Bay